Safety method and means for automotive vehicles having automatic drives



Aprll 3, 1956 .1. w. DAvlEs SAFETY METHOD AND MEANS FOR AUTOMOTIVE VEHICLES HAVING AUTOMATIC DRIVES 5 Sheets-Sheet l Filed Oct. 2, 1953 Z rotw zommzmwrr @N IN VEN TOR. ag, MM

Am .NN

mm- .w

19:25 mxmmm KME 19:26 @525cm Zozw.

.MOOD NEO www mm R

J- W. DAVIES SAFETY METHOD AND MEANS FOR AUTOMOTIVE VEHICLES HAVING AUTOMATIC DRIVES April 3, 1956 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed OCT.. 2, 1953 INVENTOR.

J. W. DAVIES SAFETY METHOD AND MEANS FOR AUTOMOTIVE VEHICLES HAVING AUTOMATIC DRIVES April 3, 1 956 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed Oct. 2, 1955 INVENTJOR.

April 3, 1956 J W DAvlEs 2,740,947

SAFETY METHOD 'AND' MEANS FOR AUTOMOTIVE VEHICLES HAVING AUTOMATIC DRIVES Filed 0G11. 2, 1953 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 INVENTOR.

J. W. DAVIES SAFETY METHOD AND MEANS FOR AUTOMOTIVE VEHICLES HAVING AUTOMATIC DRIVES April 3, 1956 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed Oct. 2, 1953 IN V EN TOR.

United States Patent O SAFETY MTHOD AND MEANS FOR AUTOMO- T IVE VEHICLES HAV 1N G AUTMATiC DRFVES .lohn W. Bat/ies, Roseland, N. 5'. Application ctober 2, 1953, Serial No. 383,765

Claims. (Cl. 340-52) This invention relates to a new method and means of safety control for automotive vehicles having automatic transmissions. Heretofore no attempts have been made to devise a method and means for securing safety to the occupants of an automotive vehicle having automatic drive transmission when thevehicle has stopped temporarily and the transmission is in drive position.

When such a vehicle is in the condition stated, there is an ever present danger to the occupants, that the vehicle may move, through forgetfulness on the part of the driver, or by some unintentional application of power. For example, there are proven cases in which the driver has forgotten that he has placed the transmission in drive position and has left the vehicle momentarily and another occupant ot' the vehicle inadvertently applied pressure to the gas pedal. ln one instance the occupant thought that she was applying the brake, and in another instance a child pressed the gas pedal.

The general public have been unaware that this ever present danger exists, and it is onlythrough sheer luck that a larger amount of deaths and damages have not resulted.

It is to overcome this extremely dangerous condition, that the present method and means have been invented. The applicant having had long experience in the art of automatic drives has produced this method and means which will fulfill the various conditions required to be met in a method and means for the purpose set forth.

This method and means will be fully understood by referring to the accompanying specification, and drawings in which lilfre parts are designated by like numbers.

ln referring now to the drawings:

Fig. l is a diagrammatical view showing a complete application of the method and means to an automotive vehicle, having an automatic transmission.

Fig. 2 is a similar View to Fig. l showing the same method, but a special selection of means used in said method.

Fig. 3 is a view similar to Fig. 2 but showing another selected set of means.

Fig. 4 is a similar View to Fig. 2 but showing yet another combination of selected means.

Fig. 5 is a similar view to Fig. 2 but showing a further different combination of selected means.

ln referring now in detail to the drawings, and especially to Fig. l, it will be seen that the means herein employed incorporates various units Working in conjunction one with another in combinations.

It will be further seen from Fig. l that the main units so co-acting include the battery i8, the starter 19, the starter solenoid 2Q, the ignition switch 21, the transmission 26 and the parking brake 3i).

The auxiliary units consisting of the vehicle door 25, preferably on the drivers side, the drivers seat 24, an audible signal 23, a visual signal 22, a transmission switch 28, a selective-lever solenoid 29, an ignition solenoid switch 2, and a parking-brake switch 3, as well as in the preferred form of a junction or control box 1. The varilCe ous units are electrically connected together by the wires, A to Q inclusive, in connection with the various switches 22a, 23a, 33, 24a-Mb, 25a, 25b, 29a, 28, the parking brake switch 2 and the solenoid 29, through the plug contacts, 4 to 17 inclusive, and 4a to 17a inclusive and the mechanical units, .23a and 3l.

ln Fig. .l all of the physical features needed to assure prop-er application of the methodA are shown, although, as will be seen from Figs. 2 to 5 inclusive only a few may be employed according to the desire of the operator. In Fig. 2 a selection has been made to employ the door 25 and the seat 24, a switch 32, and the hand lever 30.

In Fig. 3, the selection shown includes the door 25, the switch 32, and the audible signal 23. In Fig. 4 the selection is identical to Fig. 3 except it omits the signal 23. In Fig. 5 the selection has included the seat 24, the switch 32 and a visible signal 22. The method consists in creating a condition in which when the automatic transmission is in drive or park position, the ignition will be cut off automatically either through the application of the parking brake or by opening the car door, or by the driver leaving his seat.

ln Fig. 2 the selection shown will operate according to the method should the driver open the car dooror leave his seat, had the lever 30 been left in off position. As shown in this ligure the method has operated through the lever 3i). ln Fig. 3 the method has operated through the opening of the door 2S and caused a warning signal 23 to sound. In Fig. 4 the same condition exists as in Fig. 3 except no warning signal has been operated. In Fig. 5 the method is applied if the operator leaves his seat and includes a warning light showing the condition existing.

ln most of the views the selector lever is not returned automatically to neutral or park. In Fig. l this feature is incorporated by employing the solenoid 29, which when the lever 30 is in off position and switch 29a is closed, the selective lever is pulled into either neutral or parked position when solenoid 29 is energized.

With reference to Fig. l, part of the circuits are traced as follows:

T he negative terminal of battery lil is grounded, as shown. Connection from positive terminal of the battery is through wire P, through starter solenoid 2i), through wire Q to plug 17a', and thence through the contacts of ignition solenoid switch 2 and through plug rta and wire C to ignition switch 21. From switch 2l, ythis connection is through wire b and plug 5ft to plug i551.

In Fig. 3, switches 23a and 25h are closed to cause the condition whereat the audible signal 23 will sound if the driver inadvertently attempts to leave the car with ignition switch 2l on, parking-brake lever 3i? in the "clim position, and lever 27 in an operating position such as reverse, low, or drive. ln the case shown, lever 27 has inadvertently been left in the drive position. t the instant the driver opens door 25 in attempting to leave the car, switch 25a closes to complete the sounds and in an unsafe condition. This power is traced as follows:

From positive of the power supply at plug l5n, through wire m and the closed switches 2.5.5 and 25a to plug 7a, thence through the closed contacts of the parking-brake switch to plug loa, through wire n and the closed contacts of switch 2S to plug ia, thence to contact 12 through the jumper shown, and then to plug 9a and through wire g and switch 23a to the positive side of signal 23. TheA other side or terminal of signal 23 is grounded, as shown, the same as the negative terminal of battery 18. `Signal 23 then sounds for an instant, until the contacts of switch 2 open when the solenoid of this switch is energized. This. solenoid is energized with signal 23 because it is parallelconnected with the latter through Wire g,

power circuit for signal 23 which' gives him immediate warning that the car is.

plugs 9a and 10a,

amasar wireh, the closed switch 32,wire i, plug lla, and the wire from. plug 11a to the positive end of solenoid 2. .The solenoid switch thus becomes energized for an instant to open its contacts, whereupon the ignition circuit is opened for an instant suicient to cause theidling engine to stall. Under'the spring pressure, these contacts are closed an instant later to again complete the ignition circuit and cause signal 23 to sound, but this action is not instantaneous enough to permit the engine to pick up again, or to continue idling. With signal 23 emitting repeated warnings, the driver is alerted to make one or all of the following, three safety corrections. The ignition switch. 2,1.is opened to open the ignition circuit, the lever 27 is moved to the neutral or parking position to open switch, or lever 3@ is moved to the on position whereat the parking brakes are applied and the parking-brake switch 3 is opened to cut signal 215 and to deenergize solenoid 2.

If the driver wishes to make effective the automatic action shown in Fig. l for lever 27, he opens switch 2412 and closes switches 25h and 29a. Assuming that he has done this, and then with lever Sti inadvertently left of and lever 27 inadvertently left in the drive position as shown in Fig. 3, and also with ignition switch 2i inadvertently left on, he attempts to leave the car by opening door 25. In such case, solenoid 29 instantly becomes energized to pull lever 27 into the neutral position N or into the park position P. The energizing circuit for such action was through the closed switch 29a to plugs 12a and 13a, through wire k, through switch 23 which was closed at the time as shown in Figs. 2 and 3, through wire nV to plug 16a, through switch 3 to plug 7a, through Wire e, ythrough switches 25a and 25b, and through connection m to plug 15a.

Considering one of the broader aspects of myinvention, this is believed to reside in the following combination or arrangement of parts and circuits forming part of or incorporated in an automatic drive for automotive vehicles such as the so-called Fordomatic and Mercomatic drives. The usual transmission-selection member 27 is supported and disposed for movement selectively into diierent positions. At least one of these positions, i. e., D or L or R, is an operating po-sition and at leastv one, i. e., P or N, is a non-operating position. There is a control circuit which is traced, in Fig. 3, as follows: From the engineignition switch 2l through connection b to plug 5a, thence to plug i511 and through connection m, switch 2512 and connection e to plug 7a, through the park-brake switch 3 to plug 16a and thence through connection n, switch 2% and connection k to plug 13a, across the jumper shown to contacts I2, 9 and S, and through connection l1, switch 32 and connection i to contact Il and the positive end of the coil of relay 2. Included in this control circuit is switch means 23 arranged, as shown, to be closed when member 27 is in any one of its operating positions D, L and R and to be opened when member 27 is in either one of its non-operating positions P and N. There is an engineignition circuit which is traced, in Fig. 3, as follows: From battery i8 through connections P and Q to contact I7, and thence to contact 4 and through connection C to connection a. In this engine-ignition circuit there is connected the engine-ignition switch 2li, as shown. The relay 2 which is normally closed by spring pressure, as indicated, comprises the coil connected in the engine-ignition circuit in series relation with respect to the engine-ignition switch 21. The battery or electrical power-supply source il@ is associated with the control circuit to energize the coil of relay 2 upon completion of the control circuit. The door and switch 25a constitute, broadly, means associated with the control circuit for effecting completion thereof only under conditions whereat both the engine-ignition switch 21 and the switch means 23 are closed.

Having thus described my method and means in detail, although I have shown only a few of the combinations and detailsl which constitute the means I employ to accomplish my method it is to be understood I may make various l minor changes therein and not depart from the spirit of the invention andall of the claims should be read inthe light thereof.

What I claim is:

l. In a motor vehicle having a door, a transmissionselective member supportedl and disposed for movement selectively into different positions, at least one of said last-named positions being an operating position, at least one of said last-named positions being a non-operating position, an engine-ignition circuit, a source of electrical power for said circuit, and an ignition switch associated with said circuit and disposed in and with respect to said circuit in such manner as to control the same; an electrically-operated switch having its contacts connected in said engine-ignition circuit, switch means associated with said door and having a closed position and an open position and being associated with and disposed with respect to said door in such wise as to be moved from said open position thereof into said closed position thereof incidental to opening movement of said door, second switch means series-connected with said first-named switch means and associated with said member and having a closedposition and an open position and being associated with and dis- .posed with respect to said member in such wise as to be held in said closed position thereof when said member is in said operating position thereof, and electrical connection means including said first-named switch means and said second switch means and constituting therewith and with said power source an electrical circuit, said electrically-operated switch being associated with said lastnamed circuit and disposed in and with respect thereto in such wise as to become energized and thereby opened upon the closing of said tiret-named switch means.

-2. In a motor vehicle having a door member, a transmission-selective member supported and disposed for movement selectively into dilierent positions, at least one of said last-named positions being an operating position, at least one of said last-named positions being a nonoperating position, an engine-ignition circuit, a source of electrical power tor said circuit, and an ignition switch associated with said circuit and disposed in and with respect to said circuit in such manner as to control the same; switch means associated with said door and having a closed position and an open position and being disposed with respect to the latter in such wise as to be moved from said open position thereof into said closed position thereof incidental to opening movement of said door, electrical connection means including said switch means and constituting therewith and with said power source an electrical circuit, and an electrical component associated with said last-named circuit and disposed in and with respect thereto in such wise as to be activated upon the closing of said switch means, said component being connected to said transmission-selective member and being effective when activated to impart to the latter movement out of said operating position thereof.

3. In an automatic drive for automotive vehicles, a transmission-selection member supported and disposed for movement selectively into different positions, at least one of said positions being an operating position, at least one of said positions being a non-operating position, a control circuit including switch means arranged to be closed when said member is in said operating position thereof and to be opened when said member is in said non-operating position thereof, an engine-ignition circuit, an engineignition switch connected in said engine-ignition circuit, a normally-closed relay comprising a coil connected in said control circuit and contacts connected in said engineignition circuit in series relation with respect to said engineignition switch, an electrical power-supply source associated with said control circuit to energize said coil upon completion of said control circuit, and means associated with said control circuit for edecting completion thereof only under conditions whereat both said engine-ignition switch and said switch means are closed.

4. In an automatic drive for automotive vehicles, door structure forming part of said vehicle, a transmission selection member supported and disposed for movement selectively into dierent positions, at least one of said positions being an operating position, at least one of said positions being a non-operating position, a control circuit including switch means arranged to be closed when said member is in said operating position thereof and to be opened when said member is in said non-operating position thereof, an engine-ignition circuit, an engine-ignition switch connected in said engine-ignition circuit, a normallyclosed relay comprising a coil connected in said control circuit and contacts connected in said engine-ignition circuit in series relation with respect to said engine-ignition switch, an electrical power-supply source associated with said control circuit to energize said coil upon completion of said control circuit, and means associated with said structure and with said control circuit for effecting completion thereof only under conditions whereat both said engine-ignition switch and said switch means are closed and a predetermined movement is imparted to said structure.

5. In an automatic drive for automotive vehicles, seat structure forming part of said vehicle, a transmissionselection member supported and disposed for movement selectively into diierent positions, at least one of said positions being an operating position, at least one of said positions being a non-operating position, a control circuit including switch means arranged to be closed when said member is in said operating position thereof and to be opened when said member is in said non-operating position thereof, an engine-ignition circuit, an engine-ignition switch connected in said engine-ignition circuit, a normallyclosed relay comprising a coil connected in said control circuit and contacts connected in said engine-ignition circuit in series relation with respect to said engine-ignition switch, an electrical power-supply source associated with said control circuit to energize said coil upon completion of said control circuit, and means associated with said structure and with said control circuit for eiecting completion thereof only under conditions whereat both said engine-ignition switch and said switch means are closed and a predetermined movement is imparted to said structure.

References Cited in the le of this patent UNlTED STATES PATENTS 2,182,426 Courcier, Sr. Dec. 5, 1939 2,349,740 McCollum May 23, 1944 2,581,338 La Roza Jan. 8, 1952 2,584,938 Sweeny et al Feb. 5, 1952 2,613,258 Azano Oct. 7, 1952 2,634,400 Sweet Apr. 7, 1953 

